Any value in Dan Connor? (1 Viewer)

[JamesTheScot]

Any chance he gets to the MLB spot this season or next? Will he even see starts at the OLB (S or W) spot this year or next?

I was hoping his blue collar work ethic and fearless mentality would earn a spot in the lineup but the injury last year makes we wonder if he's even worth a flyer at this point.

Anyone have any insight into the Carolina LB situation this year and next?

 

[duece2626]

He's not bumping Beason out of MLB.

 

[JamesTheScot]

Wasn't there some talk of using Connor in the middle and letting Beason run wild at one of the outside spots when Connor was first drafted?

Right now, Connor is listed as the sole BU to Beason at the Mike with Diggs sitting there in the Will. Maybe I under-rate Diggs but...

Were Connor's tackles (few though they were) at LB or on special teams last season? I know a 3rd round pick isn't a guarantee to start, but with Beason only being so young himself, that pick seems kinda strange unless they intend to get Beason and Connor on the field at the same time.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Connor was a best player available pick. It was plausible that he'd replace Beason in the middle last offseason, when Beason had only played half the season in that role in place of Dan Morgan. In the meantime, after Connor's injury, Jon Beason has become one of the best young MLBs in the game and Thomas Davis has thrived on the weak side. I strongly doubt, barring a major injury, that Connor slots into either role. I think it's possible that he could see some time on the strong side in the future, but he's got no chance at an every down role and he'll be competing for tackles with two of the rangiest backers in the league.

Connor had a very narrow window for value in Carolina and while it may not be locked, it's closed for now.